THE CHAMPIONSHIPS

June 29, 2021

Francesca Jones

Press Conference

C. GAUFF/F. Jones

7-5, 6-4

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. Was that a bittersweet experience, first match at Wimbledon, to run into a very inspired Coco Gauff?

FRANCESCA JONES: Yeah, I mean, obviously I'm disappointed to have lost. I created chances. A break between us in each set. Of course, there are a lot of players that I feel in the draw that on today's day might have been a different story.

You want to play these matches, especially now this is a good time for me to play these matches to accumulate this sort of experience on a Court 2, which is obviously a very big court here, playing a player that is obviously well-respected by the fans as well.

It's not like you're by yourself on the court. There's a lot of presence. Today was a great experience, as you say, but obviously bittersweet in the fact that I created chances and at the end of the day I'll be the one going home.

Q. Can you enjoy it? Are you always about the results? Because you're such a winner, because you've lost, you just can't enjoy the experience?

FRANCESCA JONES: That's a good question.

I'd say I probably need to learn to enjoy it more. I am very results-orientated. I'm honest about that. I'm also very realistic. I went to the match thinking I could win it a hundred percent. I didn't doubt that. I knew my game could do her damage and do many other players damage in the draw.

But I'm where I am. I'm going to keep building. I just competed with someone that made quarters of Roland Garros, is 20 in the world, has multiple WTA titles, and felt comfortable on the court.

I know sooner or later I'll find myself in a position where I won't need a wild card. At the moment I'm at the beginning of the construction of my house, which has been bought, so to speak. That was an analogy, just to clarify (smiling).

Q. What in particular with your game can you take out of that? What things do you think you did well with your game in that match? What things do you think didn't quite work?

FRANCESCA JONES: Yeah, my forehand's one of my biggest weapons. I felt like I used it to my advantage very well. I mixed it up well. Pulled out the slices at good moments.

I held my service games well. Especially against someone who's got presence on the other side of the net, so I'm happy about that.

Things I need to improve: I'll be hitting a lot of returns over the next year, that's for sure. Obviously Coco has one of the biggest serves on the tour, not the biggest, not at all, but one of the biggest first serves on the tour. So I think I need to get used to the fact that there are some players that can change the effects and direction very comfortably of their serve. It's not a predictable serve.

So the next step for me is upgrading that perception of the serve that's coming at me and how I execute the return.

Q. During the changeovers you seemed to shut your eyes, almost be in a bit of a trance. Was that something you were doing as a technique to calm yourself down?

FRANCESCA JONES: Yeah, it's something that I'm trying to build into my routines. Obviously the cramp situation happened. It's important that I -- I told you guys I wasn't going to leave any stone unturned. That's the way I'm going to approach it.

It's not the first time. If you look at any of my matches in Australia, Aussie Open quallies, I was doing it too. It's something I've been trying to build in.

It's important to take yourself out of the moment. It's a very intense sport. You're out there alone. You can't switch off, especially against someone like Coco. When you do have that moment, there's 30 seconds to a minute just to breathe a little bit, it is important.

Q. I appreciate you've come off court an hour ago, but do you have an idea of your schedule? US Open a prospect you could qualify for?

FRANCESCA JONES: Yeah, of course. I will definitely play a lot on the clay during July. Then I was supposed to have a week off in Italy, but COVID has taken pasta and pizza away from me for another year unfortunately. I don't know what I'll be doing in terms of a few days off somewhere.

Then I will prepare for the hard court at US Open. Yes, of course, there's a hundred percent chance of me qualifying. That will be an objective. Match by match. It is ages away. Thank you for appreciating I just came off the court an hour ago.

Yeah, no, US Open is something to look forward to. I've actually never stepped foot on those courts because I didn't even play juniors there. Yeah, it will be an exciting time. For now I just need to reflect on today's match, how I use that to go into the second sort of swing of the clay court season.

Q. You and Coco seemed to share a nice moment at the net. What did you say to each other?

FRANCESCA JONES: Well, I've known Coco for a good few years. Seen her around at a few tournaments. Obviously spent a little bit of time in Australia running into her. I think I said before the match we practiced together a couple times. We were supposed to practice together the day after the draw came out. That was quite funny.

No, she said I played an incredible match, there's really big things to come for me, so just be patient. Obviously I appreciate that she says that. I'm just kind of in that moment I was obviously a bit gutted, so I didn't really have much to say except, Great match, good luck. I tried to a little bit now in the changing room.

Yeah, I mean, the one thing that I appreciate is Coco's made it obviously quite at an early age to the top of the game. She and her family are still very much good human beings. That really is the first thing that is on my mind with any person, it's the type of person that you are. I appreciate it.